Choose your destination

10 awesome things to do in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan: the largest city in the world. I was expecting blinding neon lights, agoraphobia-inducing crowds, an exhausting pace. I feared the jam-packed subway at rush hour, the feeling of disappearing in a human tide, the oppression of the tall buildings obscuring the sky. I was prepared to be brutally swallowed by a monster metropolis — with the hope that it would spit me out eventually.

Well, one thing that’s certain is that Tokyo is highly unpredictable: in spite of its over 13-million-people population count, busy giant intersections and immoderate taste for new everything (fashion, food trends, cosmetics, technologies), the Japanese capital actually feels strangely serene. Locals always have — and take — the time to help the lost foreigner, transports are surprisingly easy to navigate, and no problem ever seems unsolvable. Indeed, Tokyo is so livable that we started feeling at home in our ‘hood of Roppongi after about 12 hours.

It’s true, however, that time seems to fly faster there than anywhere else on earth. With so many adventures to be had, exotic dishes to devour and curiosities to explore, Tokyo will make you wish you could skip sleep altogether, hire a second stomach and teleport yourself from one fascinating suburb to the next. To avoid being overwhelmed by the gigantism of it all, here is a list of the 10 best things to do during your time there; not sights — you will find those in any guidebook — but rather experiences with a Travelettes twist. Enjoy!

One of the persisting clichés about Tokyo is the image of those inhumane, overcrowded intersections — the most emblematic of these being the Shibuya crossing, abundantly depicted in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. In reality, away from the main arteries, most Tokyo streets are tiny alleyways with cute little houses, collections of pot plants, colourful posters with kawaii characters, and that one bike (there’s always one bike). Plus sometimes a few creative additions, like these multiple duplicates of the exact same statue of Tanuki, the raccoon dog deity with a straw hat and a big belly (see, there’s also a bike).

Now I must admit that some of our extensive promenades around the city were actually accidental — we got lost —, but looking back they made for some of my favourite Tokyo moments. Just walking around is the best way to spot amazing buildings, secluded temples, pretty street decorations — and, you know, pandas on motorbikes.

2. Eat the freshest sushi of your life at Tsukiji Market

You will have to defy death to get it: the biggest fish market in the world is a daunting mess of electric delivery carts rushing in every direction at full speed, sometimes only missing each other (or tourists) by a few centimeters. But it’s worth it! You will see monster tunas being smoothly cut up by skillful knife experts, live octopuses undulating their tentacles, eels trying to jump out of their basin… and many never-before-seen sea creatures.

But the best is yet to come: after surviving the tumult of the market, go and sit back at one of its numerous sushi counters. There, prepare to forget everything you thought you knew about sushi: watch the masters slice the fish that was caught just a few hours earlier with one perfect, dexterous caress of their knife… and dive right into SUSHI HEAVEN. Believe me, I’d had the chance to try very fine sushi before that day — and yet had no idea fish could taste like that. Whoa!

3. Stock up on socks in Harajuku

Fact: socks are better in Japan. Delicate lace, beautiful patterns, kawaii animal prints… I came back with about half a suitcase full of them. But numerous other marvels are also to be found in the nerve center of Japanese teen fashion: a plethora of hair accessories, shiny phone cases, epic outfits… And this incredible tiger head backpack, which I should probably have bought.

I should mention at this point that Japanese girls are pretty much the ultimate Travelettes, since they go around everywhere in vertiginous heels. (Even when hiking up a mountain. Pregnant.) If — unlike mine — your feet are not too big, you will quite rightfully think that you have landed in the Promised Land of shoes, with specimens as genially absurd as these ice-skate look-alikes (spotted in Shibuya).

Even if you’re not big on shopping, just sitting down in one of the cafés and outfit-watch is guaranteed to be time well spent. For more about Harajuku fashion, check out Alex’s guide here.

4. Get big eyes and glowing skin for less than 3€

Ever had fun taking pictures with your friends in an old-school photo booth? Well wave those fun times goodbye because, after you try the Japanese version, good-old photo booths are going to seem so dull that you will never set foot in one ever again. This was hands down my favourite activity in Japan, and I cherish the resulting prints so much that I would rather have lost the content of my wallet than those photos during the trip.

Photo booth centers are usually found in malls and main shopping areas (there is one on Takeshita-dōri in Harajuku, for example… but we also found one on top of a volcano in Kyūshū), and are easily spotted via the crowds of giggling high school girls that walk out of them. Choose between variously themed machines (I warmly recommend Rules of Kawaii), slip 400 yens in your photo booth of choice, and let the photo shoot begin: the machine will dispense on-screen directives to help you “be so cute you’ll make everyone jealous”.

Once the photos taken, move to the editing area to add (vaguely English) catchphrases, small animals, floral headbands, bright makeup, purple hair, blue eyes… When the time is up, you will be delivered a sticker print featuring yourself with disproportionately big eyes, glowing white skin and legs longer than the Tokyo Tower.

Ps: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as this can be confusing the first time; for ours, we were abundantly assisted by a group of 14-year-old girls who couldn’t stop laughing.

5. Cry of joy after finding an address

All cities in the world have street names, lined up with numbers that follow each other, and, with a map and a good pair of eyes, you can get yourself anywhere. Right?

Wrong. In Tokyo, very few streets have names, which means addresses are indicated using the district (chōme), block number (ban) and building number… which does not necessarily depend on the house’s geographical location, but sometimes on its date of construction. Think of it this way: instead of following a line of numbers, you need to think in 3D.

This all results in a very big mess, as not only tourists, but also Tokyo locals (and taxi drivers) go around in circles for hours, avidly staring at illogically-disposed numbers, hoping for a miracle. In these conditions, finding a place with a paper map, a compass and no Google Maps is such a big challenge that succeeding is very, very rewarding. So the first time that, after a 25-minute feverish search (and a little help from an affable granddad who was walking past and appreciated our attempt at speaking Japanese), we managed to locate the restaurant that we were looking for, I must admit that… we did cry a little. And oh did the okonomiyaki taste good after that!

6. Own a pet bunny for 30 minutes at the Rabbit Cafe

You have probably heard of Cat Cafes, which are so popular in Japan (where landlords often forbid their tenants to own pets) that they are now spreading around the world, with even a French version recently opening in Paris. But did you know there was such a thing as a Rabbit Cafe?

For a small fee, you get either 30 minutes or 1 hour in the cafe, with a cup of tea for yourself and a small jar of treats (thin strips of vegetables) to feed the bunnies. Only one rabbit can freely hop around the cafe area at once — the rest of them wait in their cages. However, if your heart melts for a particular furry friend, you can ask the Bunny Manager to hold it in your lap for a cuddle. Perfect Sunday hungover cure!

The Rabbit Cafe we went to, where you will find this big-eyed cutie, is Ra.a.g.f (Harajuku), website here.

7. Find out your fortune at Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, situated in the traditional neighbourhood of Asakusa. In addition to being beautiful and having ever-burning healing incense (which will give you a solid cough if you try to heal yourself from too close), it is also one of the rare temples in Japan where you can pick up an O-mikuji (fortune paper) that is translated into English.

Make an offering, draw a wooden stick from the box, and pick up a fortune-telling paper strip in the drawer that bears the number indicated on your stick (if you don’t read Japanese numbers, this could take a while; ask a charitable local for help!). If your fortune is good, or regular, you can keep it; but if it’s bad, it is custom to tie the strip of paper to one of the wires on the temple grounds so the bad omen will stay there and not stick to you.

8. See Tokyo from up above

The best view over the city is easy to reach, and completely free: head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku (which, by the way, was designed as a futuristic version of… Notre-Dame de Paris) and take the lift to the 52th Floor. Tadaa.

Well… dancing is not exactly forbidden in Tokyo, but to be allowed to let people dance, a venue must be licensed as a club — and a club has to close by 1 am, by law. Which means all-night parties just can’t happen — legally, that is.

In reality, clubs (like techno temple Womb in Shibuya) operate as “bars” or “entertainment spaces”, where dancing is not officially permitted — but still happens when no one is looking. Try to not get carried away by the music and start dancing too frantically though… or the security guy might have to come poke you on the shoulder and ask you to dance a little less.

10. Fall into a food coma

With the highest number of Michelin-star restaurants any city has ever had, and about 80,000 restaurants in total (in comparison, there are 15,000 in New York), Tokyo could easily be named Food Capital of the world. Plus it benefits from the infinite richness of the Japanese cuisine, which is one of the most varied and elaborate gastronomic cultures in existence. Fine restaurants are a-plenty, but if your budget is a bit tight, thousands and thousands of tiny eateries and izakayas (drinking establishments which also serve food) will provide you with an unpretentious, seriously tasty meal for under 5 euros.

Everybody somehow expects Japanese cuisine to be very light — but I have been on the brink of passing out from overconsumption of food more than once during our stay! My absolute favourite dinner in Tokyo was the okonomiyaki — a hearty crepe made of flour, dashi stock, eggs, shredded cabbage and whatever else you fancy — at Botejyu, in Shibuya (website here). I still dream about it sometimes.

Food is almost uniformly good in Japan, wherever you buy it. While everybody who has lived in an Anglo-Saxon country is familiar with the concept of convenience stores, the ones in Japan (which name has been japanified into combinis) are more convenient than anywhere else, with a whole range of pre-made dished that actually taste amazing. If you don’t feel like going out for dinner, indulge into a combini-feast! Also perfect to pick up some quick breakfast.

And should you feel the urgent need to get caffeinated while not in walking distance from a cafe, it’s worth knowing that the vending machines that are ever-present on the streets (and even inside temples) sell fresh beverages, but also hot coffee. In tin cans. Yes.

There is virtually no excuse not to have a good time, when traveling to Tokyo, the options are endless! If the above don’t float your boat, why not book a tour to witness an early morning tuna auction at the fish market? This is a rare insight into traditional Japan that not many tourists get to see. Make it complete by adding a sushi breakfast! Speaking of eating, don’t miss out on Tokyo‘s latest hype: the Robot restaurant! Splurge on your bento box while being dazzled by colorful robots performing a show unlike any you’ve ever seen. If you love a good restaurant, Tokyo has some of the best in the world! It may be hard to get a table, so keep this service in mind to ensure you get a seat at the most coveted tables in town. Finally, for all fans of totally fun and crazy action, we know just the thing: dress up in costumes and discover driving through Akihabara in go-karts! Imagine putting that on your instagram stream! What we really are saying, there is almost nothing you can’t do in Tokyo, your imagination is the limit.

Dying to visit? Go here to find the best options for hotels in and around Tokyo – or check out some of the centrally-located options we’ve scouted out for you below:

Budget (min. $45 per night): Hotel MYSTAYS Asakusa-Bashi

This clean, comfortable hotel is in a super convenient location, as Asakusa-Bashi station, which is within easy walking distance, is on the Toei Asakusa line that provides some direct train services to both Narita and Haneda Airports.

Mid-range (min. $125 per night): Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo

Located close to the bustling Shinjuku district and the Shinjuku-gyoemmae Metro Station, this cute hotel is a collection of mini-apartments which feature all mod cons and plenty of space (by Tokyo standards).

Luxury: (min. $285 per night): Imperial Hotel Tokyo

Designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this beautiful, extravagant hotel is located in trendy shopping district Ginza, which boasts department stores, world-class eateries and plenty of bars and clubs. It is also just a few minutes’ walk from Hibiya Park, a beautiful and relaxing green space in the heart of the city.

Pin this post for later:

Did you enjoy this post? Never miss an awesome read, monthly give-aways and much more by joining our newsletter!

Marie Colinet was part of the Travelettes team from 2013 to 2015. Originally from Toulouse, France, two years lived in Australia left her speaking English with an awkward Fraussie accent. In September 2015, Marie is starting the epic 6-month-or-who-knows-how-long road-trip along the Panamerican Highway that she’s been dreaming of since her teenage years — all the way from the U.S. to the very tip of South-America. You can follow her on Instagram @mariecolinet!

Author:

guest

Are you and your backpack going on an exciting trip and you would like to share your experiences? Do you live in a beautiful place and want others to know all of its secrets? Then write to us ay contribute@travelettes.net and tell us about the story you would like to contribute. Find out more: www.travelettes.net/contribute/

I was so bummed to see so many cute shoes but not one to fit my size 9 feet. I tried to squish my feet into a size LL but like Cinderella's stepsister, it just wouldn't fit. I did come home with socks though. So cute. Kawaii!

That is really nice article. The point about the NO Dance rule was funny. I met a few club owners and know staff in a few clubs too, and all agreed to say it was ridiculous rule. Everybody know that those "bars" are actually clubs. And even if everywhere in the club is written in japanese and in english "don't dance" or "dancing forbidden" or "no dancing", everybody dances.But anyway, once again, great article!!! Among other cool things to do in tokyo, i'll definitely go to dance ;)

Thank you soooo much for this post. Really enjoyable to read. My friends and I will be visiting Tokyo on first week of October. Any suggestions on what to prioritize in our itinerary? We need to squeeze everything in 5 days... and seeing that we might spend 1-2 days getting lost in the city, it will help what we need to get lost to (^_^). Thanks!

Hi Ida, well I didn't have the time to do half the things I wanted to do there, so if you can actually figure out how to hack Tokyo in 5 days let me know! :)I'd recommend to hang out in the Omotesando/Harajuku area though: lots of nice little shops, quaint streets and well-dressed people. Asakusa is a more traditional area and cool to get lost in too.Definitely don't miss the fish market - I think it was my favourite experience. Probably squeeze in a karaoke session. And EATING should not be a quick chore done between two activities, but definitely your main priority!

#9 couldn't be more far from wrong.... I dance every time I go at many clubs, karaoke bars and izakaya's. They all stay open till 4-6am and they party harder then America's. Not sure where you got your information but very very far from the truth

@Lionel, got this information talking to locals. Dancing does indeed happen - as stated in the article -, but is not legally permitted. Or at least it wasn't when I visited last year - it looks like things might be changing according to this piece on Reuters: www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/23/us-japangrowth-dance-idUSKBN0EY19U20140623

This is an exciting article. :) I've always been at odds with my Japanese heritage because of my American upbringing. I'm glad I read this. I'd been made fun of by my native Japanese friends for not being "Japanese enough" and I didn't know if I ever wanted to go. Reading this article and seeing the photos made me want to go reconnect with this side of my heritage and the cousins I've left behind. Thank you, Marie! I love this. I hope your next article is just as awesome. :)

It is so awesome that every person who visits Tokyo and Japan find something of their own. Did you know that there is an owl cafe as well?

There are so many things to do in Japan. If you need help planning check out my blog posts here on How to see Japan in three weeks. There are two parts Part 1 http://bit.ly/1IIyFHHPart 2 http://bit.ly/1au9mOo

Loved this - it not only feed my undying wanderlust but also made me smile and giggle! Can't wait to put these tips into action in April :)Sincerely,A fellow travelblogger and aspiring travelette,Elle | http://thisisyugen.blogspot.com

This article was great, especially for the people that haven't visited Tokyo yet, but if you want to dive a little deeper into the local culture I carefully selected 21 hidden secrets in Tokyo, which are mostly not mentioned in tourist guides and the lonely planet http://www.reformatt.com/tokyo

wow! that was a great post to read from start to end. 6 of us plan to visit Tokyo for a week followed by Kyoto for another 5 days end March for Cherry Blossom season. Definitely want to try most of your top 10 things to do. Cannot wait!

Thanks for writing this! We spent six days sampling Tokyo on a multi city stop over. It is a memory that still delights me, especially the food! The Cos Play teens were also a treat and we got to see the cherry blossoms beginning their show.

Thank you for sharing your perspective on Tokyo. Isn't it amazing how much calmer this gigantic metropole feels than say London.Until you said it I didn't even consider buying socks. In fact I was a little surprised by tge title. Nut you are right and I will definitely do this when we go back.

Instagram

Find us on

Newsletter

Contact us

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.